Matt Keen rules himself out of replacing Dominic Perrottet after NSW election loss

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has decided he is not keen to replace Dominic Perrottet as Liberal leader after his party’s landslide defeat.

Mr Kean was the heavy favourite to replace the ousted premier, who resigned on Saturday night as Labor stormed to victory.

‘I have a young family and I would love to spend a little more time with them. The election result will enable me to do that,’ he said in a shock statement.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has decided he is not keen to replace Dominic Perrottet as Liberal leader after his party’s landslide defeat

‘Tommy recently turned three and now is the time for me to hang out and be a dad, while also continuing to serve my wonderful Hornsby constituents and the Liberal Party, though not as leader and not as part of the leadership team.

‘I want to thank Dominic Perrottet for his service to the people of NSW and thank my community for their ongoing support. I will continue to work hard for Hornsby every single day.’

Mr Kean is a moderate member of the Liberal Party, making it harder for him to gather support, but was still expected to have the numbers. 

He won over many party members with a strong campaign, despite losing ground in his own seat – something very few Liberals managed to avoid.

Some MPs in Sydney’s north may have him to think for helping hold off teal candidates, and he led a strong fundraising effort. 

Outgoing Sport Minister Alister Henskens, from the right wing faction, was expected to considering opposing Mr Kean and is the new frontrunner.

He may have a clear run to opposition leader with Stuart Ayres toppled in the seat of Penrith by a massive swing on election night and Attorney-General Mark Speakman likely lacking enough support. 

Mr Kean watched the electoral bloodbath unfold from the ABC election night panel, and was asked if he would throw his hat in the ring.

‘No, it is too early, I haven’t thought about it. I’ve been thinking about ensuring we win this election,’ he replied.

‘It has been a really difficult job as the treasurer, and also as the energy minister at this time.

‘This is not an easy portfolio, full of culture was, vested interests and different viewpoints.’

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, NSW Treasurer Matt Kean and the Liberal candidate for Riverstone Mohit Kumar visit Saumyya and Rakhi Bharadwaj during the campaign

Mr Kean also mentioned his family as a reason he may not contest the leadership, as he did in his announcement on the dot of 5pm on Sunday.

‘Seeing what Dom Perrottet has had to carry, it does make you think about the impact it does have on your family, it makes you think about the impact it has on you,’ he said. 

‘I was a junior minister when Gladys Berejiklian was the Premier, during that campaign, and now I have been by Dom’s side during this journey, I have seen how demanding the job us.’ 

Some insiders said before his announcement that he was worn out by the long campaign and may prefer to contest a federal seat instead of becoming NSW leader. 

The seat of North Sydney was won by teal independent Kylea Tink last year and the Liberals hope to win it back at the 2025 election. 

Mr Kean also had an ugly on-air spat that night with One Nation candidate Tania Mihailuk, who told him to quit politics.

‘If you are the opposition leader the Liberals are out for generations, out for generations. Please be the opposition leader, we will do better,’ she said.

‘Matt Kean had huge swings against him in his own seat, you have cost your own party government.

‘You should be thinking about resigning. Resign.’

One Nation failed to win any seats in the NSW lower house, despite talking up their chances in the leadup to the election. 

Party leader Mark Latham was even more scathing of Mr Kean, holding him personally responsible for the Coalition’s election loss.

‘Matt Kean deserted the conservative western Sydney base and we filled it. Kean destroyed the government,’ he claimed.

Mr Latham, who as federal Labor leader in 2004 lost to John Howard and has since expressed much more right wing views, blamed Mr Kean’s moderate policies.

‘His green energy plan has been a disaster, driving up electricity bills and, as treasurer, he’s got the state buried in debt,’ he claimed.

‘So he’s got two massive policy failures and has betrayed the Liberal Party base that don’t want to support someone from the green-left.’

Mr Kean responded with a devastating spray of his own, highlighting Mr Latham’s controversial history.

‘Mark Latham once described climate sceptics as “dangerous ideologues… devoid of reason and intellectual substance”,’ he said.

‘He said men “use domestic violence as a coping mechanism”, he intimidated a female swimming instructor, [and] broke a taxi driver’s arm.’